Neuroinflammation, microglia and the cell biology of Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

The pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by progressive accumulation of misfolded proteins, which form senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, and chronic inflammation in the brain associated with inflammatory mediators by the activation of innate immune responses. There has been considerable interest in the role of neuroinflammation in directly contributing to the progression of AD. Studies in mice and humans have identified a role for microglial cells, the resident innate immune cells of the CNS, in AD. Activated microglia are a key hallmark of the disease and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by microglia may result in a positive feedback loop between neuro..